United States Academic Decathlon (USAD)
Catalog organization: United States Academic Decathlon
Compiled by: ExtracurricularHub Editorial Team — editorial policy
Last updated
Researched Aug 22, 2026
What Is United States Academic Decathlon (USAD)?
USAD is a multidisciplinary high-school competition covering art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, social science, essay, speech, and interview, plus the public Super Quiz team event. A standard team has nine students from one high school: three Honor, three Scholastic, and three Varsity. For 2026-27, the divisions use accumulated unweighted GPA: Honor 3.85+, Scholastic 3.50-3.8499, and Varsity 0.00-3.499. The season theme is Journeys of Transformation: An Exploration of Travel and Transportation.
Students normally join or start a school team with a faculty coach and school permission, then follow their local/state affiliate's dates. An individual pathway is available through state directors for students in nontraditional schools, schools without a team, or participating schools where the student is not on the competing team. State champions may advance to the national finals in Bloomington, Minnesota, April 29-May 1, 2027. Registration, materials, travel, and national participation costs vary by state, school, format, and purchases.
United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) Key Facts: Cost, Deadline, and Eligibility
| Cost | Varies — see Cost and funding |
|---|---|
| Format | Hybrid |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Listing last updated | August 30, 2026 |
Program details shown here reflect the current catalog record.
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How to Apply to United States Academic Decathlon (USAD)
Open the application for United States Academic Decathlon (USAD)